Sunday, 22 June 2014

The 6 Biggest Skincare Mistakes - Take Care of Beauty

The 6 Biggest Skincare Mistakes
You
already know it’s a sin to go to bed without washing your face
(right?!), but that’s just one of many common bad habits that can
seriously screw with your skin.
To determine the most unforgivable
beauty mistakes, we talked to board certified dermatologist Debra
Luftman, M.D., co-author of The Beauty Prescription and dermatologist
for Simple skincare. Brace yourself for some tough love—trust us, your
skin will thank you later!Mistake #1:
You pile on the products We’ve all done it—you hear rave reviews about a
new treatment and immediately think, Omigod, I need that! Before you
know it, your beauty arsenal consists of toners, moisturizers, scrubs,
retinols, cleansers, creams, and more. Not only is applying all of these
products excessive and time-consuming, but you run the risk of
irritating your skin. According to Luftman, your daily skincare routine
should really cap off at three to four products. “You only need a
cleanser, daily sunscreen, and a treatment-oriented product—like a
moisturizer, acne treatment, or anti-aging product,” Luftman says.
If
you’re constantly tempted by a new mask or cream that you bought, keep
it out of sight so you only use it occasionally. And nix harsh scrubs
and toners from your daily routine—they should only be used two to three
times per week, Luftman says.Mistake #2:
You skimp on sleep and water There’s a reason your face resembles a
celebrity mug shot after a night of partying. “Sleep and hydration are
essential for skin health,” Luftman says. Not getting enough water can
literally leave your skin thirsty, making it look dry and dull, so make
sure you’re drinking enough water every day (and it’s not necessarily
just eight glasses!). And hitting the sheets a little earlier can help
give you a healthier glow. “Sleep is so important for skin turnover and
for blood volume coming to the skin,” Luftman says. “It just makes all
the difference in the world.” Stay fresh-faced by aiming for the
recommended 7-8 hours of sleep each night.Mistake #3: You
pick products that try to do too much When a single product promises
you clearer skin, fewer wrinkles, and smaller pores, who wouldn’t want
to snatch that up? The problem: It’s highly unlikely that a product will
contain enough of each ingredient to live up to all of those claims—and
if does, it’s probably too harsh for your skin. “Women are now tending
to use products that multitask. Unfortunately, that means choosing
products with more and often irritating ingredients,” Luftman says. Her
suggestion: Check out the ingredient label—anything after the first
three ingredients isn’t doing much. Instead, stick to products with
fewer ingredients that are targeting a specific issue, says Luftman.Mistake #4:
You put on products a little haphazardly Yes, it actually matters
which products you put on first, which ones you combine, and when you
apply them! When it comes to layering products, you want to put on the
treatment-oriented product first, says Luftman. For example, if you’re
using a retinol or acne treatment, you should apply that before a basic
moisturizer. And talk to a dermatologist before using more than one
product with irritating ingredients, like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic
acid—two common OTC acne-fighters. Finally, use harsher products like
retinols at night, since they can make your skin more sun sensitive,
says Luftman.Mistake #5: You
leave your makeup on at the gym We know it can be a little unnerving to
work out totally bare-faced, but your skin will be better for it. Even
mineral makeup formulas that swear they won’t clog your pores can still
cause you to break out after a sweat session, says Luftman. Keep makeup
removing wipes in your gym bag so that you have no excuses. Feeling too
exposed? You can get away with wearing a very basic tinted
moisturizer—just make sure it’s oil free, says Luftman.Mistake #6:
You’re skipping a daily sunscreen We know you’ve heard it a million
times, but it’s worth repeating: “The most important step not to miss on
a daily basis is the use of an SPF,” says Luftman. Not only can it
protect you against sunburns and skin cancer, but new research found
that people who use a daily sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher have
significantly younger-looking skin. Luftman’s suggestion: Simple’s
Protecting Light Moisturizer with SPF 15, an oil-free formula that
shields against UVA and UVB rays. In this case, it’s fine to let a
moisturizer pull double-duty as a sunscreen (See mistake #3). If you
plan to be in the sun for an extended period of time, be sure to layer
on something a little stronger—like SPF 30 or higher.